Method for scanning services with a multimode communication device

ABSTRACT

A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving on a control channel signaling software for scanning portions of a television spectrum, where the control channel operates in a portion of the television spectrum. The method further includes scanning for services operating in the television spectrum according to the received signaling software, detecting one or more services operating in the television spectrum, and selecting a service of the detected one or more services operating in the television spectrum. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/296,955 filed Dec. 8, 2005 which is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to multimode communicationdevices, and more specifically to a method for scanning services with amultimode communication device.

BACKGROUND

The FCC's (Federal Communications Commission) experience with unlicensedband has proven that providing a “commons” area for spectrum hasfostered lots of new consumer devices and services. Technologyinnovations (e.g. digital spread spectrum technology) have also made itpossible for numerous disparate communication devices to co-existsuccessfully in the same spectrum band.

To spur further advancements in the communications industry, the FCC hasproposed that all unused TV spectrum resulting from the transition toHDTV (High Definition TV) be made available to consumer devices andcommunication service providers on a dynamic basis. The advent of WiFi,WiMAX, Ultra Wideband (UWB), and the ultimate evolution to SoftwareDefined Radio (SDR) technology is expected to drive the need for newapplications in multimode communication device that can make use of theproposed unused TV spectrum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication deviceoperating in a communication system;

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the communication device or abase station of the communication system;

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary method operating in the communicationdevice;

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary method operating in the base station;

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary illustration of services presented by thecommunication device; and

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, whenexecuted, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure provide a methodfor scanning services with a multimode communication device.

One embodiment of the subject disclosure includes a method for receivingon a control channel signaling software for scanning portions of atelevision spectrum, where the control channel operates in a portion ofthe television spectrum. The method further includes scanning forservices operating in the television spectrum according to the receivedsignaling software, detecting one or more services operating in thetelevision spectrum, and selecting a service of the detected one or moreservices operating in the television spectrum.

One embodiment of the subject disclosure includes a communication devicehaving a memory storing computer instructions, and a processor coupledto the memory. Responsive to execution of the computer instructions, theprocessor can perform operations including receiving on a channelsignaling software for scanning portions of a television spectrum, wherethe channel operates in a portion of the television spectrum, scanningfor services in the television spectrum according to the receivedsignaling software, detecting one or more services operating in thetelevision spectrum, and selecting one of the detected one or moreservices according to a service preference.

One embodiment of the subject disclosure includes a computer-readablestorage medium having computer instructions which, responsive to beingexecuted by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor toperform operations including receiving a request from a communicationdevice to scan a television spectrum for services, and transmitting tothe communication device over a channel of the television spectrum asoftware defined radio software application to enable the communicationdevice to scan the television spectrum, wherein the channel operates ina portion of the television spectrum.

In a first embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication devicehas a controller for managing operations of a user interface (UI), and awireless transceiver. The UI conveys messages to an end user andfacilitates manipulating operations of the communication device. Thewireless transceiver supports software defined radio (SDR)communications and communications on at least one other accesstechnology. The controller is programmed to scan for services in atelevision (TV) spectrum and at least one among a cellular spectrum, anultra wideband (UWB) spectrum, a WiFi spectrum and a WiMax spectrum,detect one or more services on said access technologies, and present oneor more of the detected services to the end user.

In a second embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer-readablestorage medium operates in communication device. The storage medium hascomputer instructions for establishing one or more service preferencesgrouped according to a select one or more end user profiles comprising astationary end user profile, a mobile end user profile, an economic enduser profile, and a data centric end user profile, scanning for servicesin a TV spectrum and at least one other wireless access technologyaccording to the one or more service preferences, detecting one or moreservices, and presenting one or more of the detected services to an enduser of the communication device.

In a third embodiment of the present disclosure, a base station has awireless transceiver supporting software defined radio communications inan unlicensed TV spectrum and communications on at least one among aplurality of other access technologies, and a controller for managingoperations of the wireless transceiver. The controller is programmed tooffer one or more services in the unlicensed TV spectrum and at leastone among the plurality of access technologies, receive a servicerequest from a communication device scanning the unlicensed TV spectrumand the plurality of access technologies, and grant the communicationdevice access to the service.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication device 102operating in a communication system 100. The communication device 102 inthe present illustration represents a multimode communication devicecapable of communicating with any number of access technologiesoperating in a base station 104 such as, for example, cellular, softwaredefined radio (SDR) and/or WiMAX technologies, just to mention a few.Cellular technologies can include, for example, CDMA-1×, UMTS/HSDPA,GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, and next generation technologies as theyarise. Alternatively, or in combination, the communication device 102and the base station 104 can also support WiMAX broadband communicationsoperating at 2.3 GHz, 2.5 GHz, 3.5 GHz, 5.8 GHz, or other frequencies.

The communication device 102 and the base station 104 can also beprogrammed to perform spectrum analysis utilizing SDR techniques toidentify unused portions of spectrum in a local area. The unusedspectrum can be represented by portions of TV spectrum expected to bereleased by the FCC for public use (e.g., 54-72 MHz, 76-88 MHz, 174-216MHz, 470-806 MHz). Whether or not the FCC releases this spectrum forunlicensed use, it has no impact on the operations of the communicationdevice 102 and base station 104 as described herein. The communicationdevice 102 can also be programmed to access WiFi access points operatingat multiple frequencies (e.g., 2.4 GHz or 5.8 GHz). The WiFi accesspoints can be located in a residence or commercial building 108, or bemesh-based to support access across an entire municipality.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of the communication device 102or alternatively the base station 104 of the communication system 100.The communication device 104 can comprise a wireless transceiver 202, auser interface (UI) 204, a power supply 214, and a controller 206 formanaging operations thereof. The wireless transceiver 202 utilizescommon communication technology that supports the aforementioned accesstechnologies (i.e., cellular, SDR, UWB, WiMAX and WiFi). The UI 204 caninclude a depressible keypad 208 for manipulating operations of thecommunication device 102. The UI 204 can further include a display 210such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for conveyingimages to the end user of the communication device 102. The audio system212 of the UI 204 utilizes common audio technology for conveying andintercepting audible signals of the end user.

The power supply 214 can utilize common power management technologies(such as replaceable batteries, supply regulation technologies, andcharging system technologies) for supplying energy to the components ofthe communication device 102 to facilitate portable applications. Thecontroller 206 can utilize computing technologies such as amicroprocessor and/or digital signal processor (DSP) with associatedstorage memory such a Flash, ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other liketechnologies.

The base station 104 can comprise a wireless transceiver 202, a powersupply 214, and a controller 206 for managing operations thereof. Thewireless transceiver 202 in this embodiment is generally much larger andmore costly than the wireless transceiver of the communication device102. Generally speaking, base stations utilize large towers (as shown inFIG. 1) for emanating and receiving RF signals from the communicationdevices 102 according to any one of the aforementioned accesstechnologies. The wireless transceiver 202 further includes a number ofcomputing devices and power amplifiers to support these accesstechnologies across a wide geographic region. The power supply 214 canbe a combination of a conventional uninterrupted power supply (UPS)system supported with power from a utility company. The controller 206can comprise a number of computing devices such as scalable servers withassociated nonvolatile (e.g., mass storage media) and volatile memories(e.g., RAM, SRAM, DRAM, etc.).

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary method 300 operating in the communicationdevice 102. Method 300 begins with step 302 with the controller 206being programmed to establish one or more service preferences for theend user of the communication device 102. The service preferences caninclude, for example, cost of service, quality of service (QoS), RFsignal strength of a base station 104, communication range of the basestation 104 relative to a location of the communication device 102, andhand-off capabilities of neighboring base stations 104. The controller206 can in turn be programmed in step 304 to group these preferencesunder the direction of the end user into end user profiles such as astationary end user profile, a mobile end user profile, an economic enduser profile, and a data centric end user profile.

A stationary end user profile can be configured so that thecommunication device 102 seeks a network having an optimal balancebetween price and QoS. A mobile profile can configure the communicationdevice 102 so that it seeks networks having the best signal strength,and secondarily the best hand-off capability between base stations 104.The economic end user profile can configure the communication device 102so that it seeks a communication network having the lowest cost per bitindependent of signal strength and range. The data centric end userprofile can configure the communication device 102 so that it searchesfor networks having the highest ratio of Mbps to cost of service. Theend user can obviously select other customized parameters for theaforementioned profiles and create other profiles of interest in steps302-304.

In step 306, the controller 206 can be directed by the end user to alsoestablish a buddy list of other communication devices roaming throughoutthe communication system 100. The buddy list can include telephonenumbers as well as instant messaging (IM) IP addresses to search forthese communication devices in any of the aforementioned accesstechnologies. In step 308, the controller 206 can also be programmed toreceive signaling software in a control channel for scanning portions ofthe unlicensed TV spectrum. The signaling software controls themodulation and demodulation technique used for communicating inavailable bands of the TV spectrum as well as defining the communicationprotocol for exchanging messages with third party devices. The controlchannel can be supplied by a portion of the TV spectrum or any of theother access technologies (e.g., cellular). In accordance with SDRtechniques, step 308 can be invoked any number of times to reprogram orupdate the controller 206 to enable a number of communication techniquesutilized in the TV spectrum. Step 308 can also be applied to existingand future unlicensed frequencies made available by the FCC.

In step 310, the controller 206 can be programmed to receive informationin the control channel indicating the available services in the TVspectrum (or other unlicensed frequency) as well as the other accesstechnologies. This step can serve to accelerate the scanning process aswell as inform the controller 206 of the type of signaling techniquerequired to access services in the TV spectrum. The controller 206 cantherefrom proceed to step 312 where it scans for the services identifiedin step 310 in the TV spectrum as well as the other access technologiesaccording to the preferences set forth in steps 302-304. The foregoingservices can represent, for example, full-duplex voice services (overcircuit switched or packet switched networks using Voice over IP),half-duplex voice services, location services, video services, textmessaging services, or instant messaging services, just to mention afew.

If one or more services are detected in step 316, the controller 206proceeds to step 318; otherwise, it returns to step 310 where it checksfor service updates. In step 318, the controller 206 presents theavailable services to the end user by way of the UI 204 (see FIG. 5),and processes selections made by the end user. For services havingsecurity protections (see lock icon next to “Univ. Texas WiMAX”—FIG. 5),the end user may have to enter a security code such as a login andpassword. Alternatively, the controller 206 can be programmed in step318 to implicitly select one or more services according to end userprofiles configured on the device by the user and/or a history of enduser service selections.

In a supplemental embodiment, the controller 206 can be programmed toidentify in step 320 service preferences of the end user from a historyof monitored behavior. The preferences can be determined fromstatistical modeling which looks for patterns in the end user'sbehavior. The controller 206 can alternatively or in combination alsomonitor network anomalies (e.g., an identified base station 104 withrecurring poor signal strength). With end user behavior (e.g. time ofday, location) and network anomalies known the controller 206 canfurther enhance the step of scanning for services in the TV spectrum andother access technologies as depicted step 314.

Once the end user (or a defined profile implicitly) has selected aservice, the controller 206 enables in step 322 the selected service,and under direction of the end user can prevent other communicationdevices from detecting its presence by way of, for example, restrictionsprovided in the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). In step 324, thecontroller 206 can be programmed to monitor and detect othercommunication devices associated with the buddy list established in step306. If one or more communication devices are detected, the controller206 proceeds to step 326 where it presents the end user a list of thecommunication devices detected. In step 328, the controller 206 awaits aselection from the end user. Upon receiving a selection from the enduser corresponding to one or more the detected communication devices,the controller 206 proceeds to step 330 where it establishescommunications with said devices.

The aforementioned buddy list communications process of steps 306, and324-330 can be utilized in instant messaging applications, and/orhalf-duplex voice applications such as dispatch services commonlyreferred to as “walkie-talkie” or push-to-talk (PTT) communications.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary method 400 operating in the base station 104that in part mirrors the operations of method 300. Method 400 beginswith the base station 104 offering one or more services in the TVspectrum and in one or more of the other access technologies discussedearlier. In an SDR environment, the services can be offered dynamicallyin available licensed or unlicensed spectrum. For example, the FCC maydictate rules in which services may only be offered in the unused TVspectrum for a finite period, and extended the availability of suchservices only when there are active users. Independent of the bandwidthsharing scheme promulgated by the FCC or public enterprises, a controlchannel can be provided by the base station 104 (or anothercommunications source) to inform the communication device 102 aboutthese services. The information supplied by the base station 104 caninclude, for example, a list of available services, a list of servicesawaiting their turn in queue, a list of SDR techniques used on a perchannel basis, sources for downloading SDR software, and so on.

In step 404, the base station 104 can be programmed to receive a servicerequest from a communication device 102 scanning the TV spectrum or oneof the other access technologies. The service request can be processedat the base station 104 or at a controller managed by a third partyenterprise offering the service. For example, the communication device102 of FIG. 5 illustrates Starbucks Coffee highlighted in the display210 as one of the potential sources of service available to the enduser. The service can be hosted by the Starbucks Coffee Company in whichcase, the base station 104 relays the service request to the controllerhosting said service. The service request may or may not requiresubscription and security information (e.g., login and password)depending on the service requirements of the hosting party. However, inmost cases this can be accommodated by standard single sign-onauthentication technologies. In step 406, the base station 104 can beprogrammed to grant the communication device 102 access to the servicerequested directly or indirectly by way of the hosting party.

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 600 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operatesas a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may beconnected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient user machine in server-client user network environment, or as apeer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or anymachine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly anyelectronic device that provides voice, video or data communication.Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 600 may include a processor 602 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 604 and a static memory 606, which communicate with each othervia a bus 608. The computer system 600 may further include a videodisplay unit 610 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, asolid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system600 may include an input device 612 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 614 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 616, a signal generationdevice 618 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 620.

The disk drive unit 616 may include a machine-readable medium 622 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 624)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions 624may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the mainmemory 604, the static memory 606, and/or within the processor 602during execution thereof by the computer system 600. The main memory 604and the processor 602 also may constitute machine-readable media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containinginstructions 624, or that which receives and executes instructions 624from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a networkenvironment 626 can send or receive voice, video or data, and tocommunicate over the network 626 using the instructions 624. Theinstructions 624 may further be transmitted or received over a network626 via the network interface device 620.

While the machine-readable medium 622 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present disclosure.

The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken toinclude, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memorycard or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; andcarrier wave signals such as a signal embodying computer instructions ina transmission medium; and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail orother self-contained information archive or set of archives isconsidered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storagemedium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one ormore of a machine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listedherein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, inwhich the software implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodicallysuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it can be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed embodiments require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separately claimed subject matter.

1. A method, comprising: receiving on a control channel, by a deviceincluding at least one processor, signaling software for scanningportions of a television spectrum, wherein the control channel operatesin a portion of the television spectrum; scanning, by the device, forservices operating in the television spectrum according to the receivedsignaling software; detecting, by the device, one or more servicesoperating in the television spectrum; and selecting, by the device, aservice of the detected one or more services in the television spectrum.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting, by the device,comprises selecting the service according to a data rate to cost ofservice ratio determined for each of the detected one or more servicesin the television spectrum.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprisingscanning, by the device, for services in at least one of a cellularspectrum, an ultra wideband spectrum, a wireless fidelity spectrum, or aworldwide interoperability for microwave access spectrum.
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein the scanning, by the device, comprises scanning, bythe device, for services according to at least one of a cost of service,a quality of service, a radio frequency signal strength of a basestation, a communication range of the base station, hand-offcapabilities of neighboring base stations, or combinations thereof. 5.The method of claim 1, comprising receiving, by the device, controlchannel information indicating available services in the televisionspectrum, wherein the scanning, by the device, comprises scanning forservices in the television spectrum according to the control channelinformation.
 6. The method of claim 1, comprising: establishing, by thedevice, a communication identifier list of other communication devices;detecting, by the device, a presence of one of the other communicationdevices operating in the television spectrum; and facilitating, by thedevice, establishment of communications with the detected communicationdevice according to an entry in the communication identifier list. 7.The method of claim 1, comprising preventing, by the device, othercommunication devices operating in the television spectrum fromdetecting a presence of the device.
 8. The communication device of claim1, wherein the device is a portable communication device.
 9. Acommunication device, comprising: a memory storing computerinstructions; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein responsiveto execution of the computer instructions, the processor performsoperations comprising: receiving on a channel signaling software forscanning portions of a television spectrum, wherein the channel operatesin a portion of the television spectrum; scanning for services in thetelevision spectrum according to the received signaling software;detecting one or more services operating in the television spectrum; andselecting one of the detected one or more services according to aservice preference.
 10. The communication device of claim 9, wherein theservice preference is based on a comparison between a quality of serviceoffering and cost of service offering of a communication networkoperating in the television spectrum.
 11. The communication device ofclaim 9, wherein responsive to executing the computer instructions theprocessor performs operations comprising receiving control channelinformation indicating available services operating in the televisionspectrum, and wherein the scanning comprises scanning for servicesoperating in the television spectrum according to the control channelinformation.
 12. The communication device of claim 9, wherein responsiveto executing the computer instructions the processor performs operationscomprising: monitoring a use behavior of services by an end user; andidentifying the service preference from the monitored use behavior,wherein the scanning comprises scanning for services operating in thetelevision spectrum according to the service preference.
 13. Thecommunication device of claim 9, wherein responsive to executing thecomputer instructions the processor performs operations comprising:establishing a contact list of other communication devices; detectingfrom the selected service a presence of one of the other communicationdevices utilizing the selected service; and facilitating establishmentof communications with the detected communication device according to anidentifier in the contact list.
 14. The communication device of claim 9,wherein the selected service is one of a full-duplex voice service, ahalf-duplex voice service, a location service, a video service, a textmessaging service, or an instant messaging service.
 15. Thecommunication device of claim 9, wherein the communication device is aportable communication device.
 16. The communication device of claim 9,wherein the scanning comprises scanning for services according to atleast one of a cost of service, a quality of service, a radio frequencysignal strength of a base station, a communication range of the basestation, hand-off capabilities of neighboring base stations, orcombinations thereof.
 17. A computer-readable storage medium, comprisingcomputer instructions which, responsive to being executed by at leastone processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operationscomprising: receiving a request from a communication device to scan atelevision spectrum for services; and transmitting to the communicationdevice over a channel of the television spectrum a software definedradio software application to enable the communication device to scanthe television spectrum, wherein the channel operates in a portion ofthe television spectrum.
 18. The computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 17, wherein the communication device selects a service operatingin the television spectrum.
 19. The computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 18, wherein the communication device selects the service operatingin the television spectrum according to a comparison between a qualityof service offering and a cost of service offering of each of theservices.
 20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, whereinexecution of the computer instructions causes the processor to performoperations comprising: receiving from the communication device aselection of a service in operating the television spectrum; andfacilitating enablement of the selected service.